Great Key Deer Story: This really big Key deer buck showed all the signs of having a screwworm infestation in his left ear back when we first photographed him on October 23rd, 2016. He was so visibly upset by the adult flies harassing him that we used a video of his behavior as a way to educate our volunteers on how to identify the signs of screwworm in the Key deer. We managed to get one dose of the medication in him on that date. He definitely was a more wild deer, one that avoided humans and preferred the natural habitat in the woods and pine rocklands. Many of us wondered if he had survived the screwworm outbreak. Just yesterday, we got good news, refuge volunteer Mickey Foster was able to get another photograph of him, alive and well. He has such a large and unusual antler rack that there is no doubt he is the same deer. Thanks to all the volunteers who have been helping with this unusual disease outbreak, there are many Key deer alive today as a result of your efforts.
Photo: Mickey Foster
011717
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.